Effect of salvianolic acid B on high glucose-induced phenotypic transition and extracellular matrix secretion in human glomerular mesangial cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on high glucose-induced phenotypic transition and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion in human glomerular mesangial cells (HGMCs) and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:HGMCs were randomly divided into control group, high glucose group and high glucose plus high dose, medium dose and low dose of Sal B groups.The HGMCs except those in control group were exposed to high glucose (33.3 mmol/L) for 72 h, while those in Sal B groups were co-incubated with indicated concentrations of Sal B.The protein levels ofα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) , transforming growth () and phosphorylated Smad2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by Western blot.The secretion levels of collagen type I (Col I) , collagen type III (Col III) , fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN) were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Exposure to high glucose markedly increased the protein expression ofI, Col III, FN and LN in the HG-MCs (P<0.01).The phosphorylation levels of Smad2 and p38 MAPK were also significantly increased (P<0.01).Coincubation with Sal B evidently decreased the protein expression ofI, Col III, FN and LN in the HGMCs induced by high glucose (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The phosphorylated levels of Smad2 and p38 MAPK were also reduced noticeably (P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Sal B significantly suppresses high glucose-induced phenotypic transition and ECM secretion in the HGMCs, which might be attributed, at least partly, to inhibition ofSmad signaling pathway and p38 MAPK activation.

Screening of MYH7 gene mutation sites in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its significance / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#There have been few reports of mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) gene in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is associated with sudden cardiac death caused by HCM. This study aimed to screen the mutation sites in the sarcomeric gene MYH7 in Chinese patients with HCM. We also planned to analyze the pathogenicity of the mutation site as well as its significance in clinical and forensic medicine.@*METHODS@#From January 2006 to June 2017, autopsy cases were collected from the Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. The experiment was to detect MYH7 gene status in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 18 independent autopsy cases who suffered HCM related sudden death (fatal HCM) and 20 cases without cardiomyopathy. Common mutation exon fragments of MYH7 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The end-of-deoxygenation method and gene cloning method were further performed to analyze the mutation sites. Homologous comparison among mutant sites was conducted using BLAST online database.@*RESULTS@#The 1336th nucleotide of MYH7 gene at exon 14 was converted from T to G in one HCM case, resulting in the conversion of threonine (Thr) at position 446 to proline (Pro). In another case, the 1402th nucleotide at exon 14 was converted from T to C, resulting in the conversion of phenylalanine (Phe) at position 468 to leucine (Leu). Homologous comparison results showed that the two amino acid residues of Thr446 and Phe468 are highly conserved among different species.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our results showed fatal HCM harbored mutations of Thr446Pro and Phe468Leu in the MYH7 gene. It is significant for clinical and forensic medicine to further explore the functions and detailed mechanisms of these mutations.

Effect of Chlorpyrifos and Cypermethrin on Cytochrome P450 Activity in Mice / 环境与健康杂志

0.05).Chlorpyrifos increased the activity of CYP1A1 in lungs,CYP2B1 in kidneys and lungs.Cypermethrin increased activity of CYP1A1 in livers,kidneys and lungs,CYP2B1 in livers and lungs,CYP3A in livers.These increases were statistically significant (P

A Case of Nemaline Myopathy

Childhood onset nemaline myopathy, first described in 1963 by Shy, et al and Conen, et al, is rare congenital myopathy, characterized by nonprogressive or slowly progressive muscle weakness associated with rod-like structures in muscle fibers, often with dysmorphic features. This myopathy was confirmed by muscle biopsy. The light microscopic features noted generally small round fibers that showed variation in size and occasional internal nuclei and characteristic rod bodies that could be demonstrated in the longitudinal sections stained with modified Gomori trichrome stain. Electromicroscopically there were accumulations of numerous irregular electron dense materials scattered between the myofibrils, particularly under the sarcolemma and enlargement and streamimg of the Z disk. We report a case of childhood onset nemaline myopathy in Korea in a 7 year- old boy who had nonprogressive muscle weakness of the limbs with a waddling gait.

A Case of Wernicke's Encephalopathy which Occurred During Chemotherapy in a Child with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Wernicke,s encephalopathy(WE), a neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency, is characterized by the triad of ocular symptoms, ataxia, and mental confusion. More than 90% of the cases are observed in chronic alcoholics. Other conditions less frequently associated with WE are anorexia nervosa, prolonged parenteral nutrition, hemodialysis, uremia, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroplasty for morbid obesity, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS). One of the rare diseases associated with WE is tumors of the lymphoid-hemopoietic systems. We experienced a case of WE in a 15-year-old girl presented with bilateral horizontal nystagmus, bilateral abducens nerve palsy, mental confusion, disorientation, and ataxia after suffering anorexia, persistent vomiting, and watery diarrhea for 30 days following chemotherapy for acute myeloblastic leukemia. The serum thiamine level was 13.4 ng/mL(normal : 18.4-53.1). Brain MR T2-weighted image revealed a high signal intensity lesions bilaterally at the medial thalamus, pons, tectum, mammilary body, lateral wall of third ventricle, and putamen. Bilateral abducens nerve palsy, ataxia, and mental confusion improved dramatically following thiamine 100 mg/day replacement for 4 days. After two monthly follow-up, she was left with a residual fine bilateral horizontal nystagmus. We confirmed this case by clinical symptoms, brain MR findings, low thiamine level, and clinical response following thiamine replacement, and report with a brief review of the literature.

Effect of the Injected Volume Changes in Epidural Morphine on the Postoperative Pain Control after Caesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

The epidural injection of 4 mg of morphine in a volume of 4 ml, 7 ml, and 10 ml (groups I, II, and III) for post-operative analgesia after Caesarean section(30 patients), was evaluated. Thirty patients received continuous epidural anesthesia with 2% lidocaine 20 ml, 8.4% bicarbonate 2 ml and epinephrine 1: 200,000. Patients were established to T4 level anesthesia with above local anesthetics, supplemented with 2% lidocaine, when necessary. Each patient received 4 mg of morphine epidurally after delivery of baby. The postoperative pain relief was considered good in all three groups. The duration of of pain relief in each group, I, II, and III was 22.2+/-2.9, 20.6+/-4.6 and 21.6+/-4.2 hours, respectively, which showed no statistical difference between any two youps. The quality of pain relief was almost same, except during 12~18 hours after observation, In tbat period, there was better pain relief in group I than the other two groups (p<0.05). With the result of this study, it might be suggested that we'd better use 4ml of injected volume when we give 4mg of epidural morphine after Caesarean section for postoperative pain control, even though the small difference was seen only after 12~18 hours.

The Hemodynamic Effect of the Elevation of Lower Extemities during Hyperbaric Spinal Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

Hypotension is one of the well-known complications following spinal anesthesia, and Trendelenburg position seems to have been used as one of the management of it. But, Trendelenburg position generally raises spinal anesthetic level with the use of hyperbaric tetracaine, and blood pressure may even further decrease. If simple elevation of lower extemities can prevent hypotension successfully without raising spinal anesthetic level following hyperbaric spinal anesthesia, there will be a possibility for us to replace Trendelenburg position with the elevation of lower extremities. We examined 50 cases of hyperbaric spinal anesthesia followed by elevation of lower extremities with the angles of l5 and 30 degrees. At each case, hydration with 10 ml per Kg was performed during the fixation time (about 30 minutes) and then, blood pressure(systolic and diastolic), heart rate were checked with the time-interval of 1 and 2 minutes for each angle. The paired T-test showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure after spinal anesthesia was increased in all cases with mean values of 2.74~5.68 mmHg for systolic blood pressure(p<0.05) and 3.26~7.22 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure(p<0.05), and that heart rate was decreased by 3.54-5.82 beats per minute(p<0.05). In conclusion, simple elevation of lower extremities and routine hydration therapy seemed to elevate blood pressure, making it possible for us to consider elevation of lower extremities to prevent hypotension without raising spinal anesthetic level in routine hyperbaric spinal anesthesia.

Variables Affecting the Level of Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

To determine whether age, weight, height, vertebral column length, body mass index, or abdominal circumference might influence the distribution of sensory analgesia after epidural anesthesia, 100 women presenting for cesarean section were studied. All received 26 mg of 2.0% lidocaine mixed with 8.4% bicarbonate 1 ml/lidocaine 10 ml and 1:300,000 epinephrine, including 3 ml of test dose, through the epidural catheter inserted in L3-4 interspace. While the women lay supine on a horizontal operating table with the air bag under their right hip, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes after injection, the cephalad extent of sensory analgesia (loss of sensation of sharpness to pin prick) was determined. Age (31.9+/-3.8 years), weight (69.2+/-9.3 kg), height (158.9+/-4,5 cm), vertebral column length (59.8+/-5.0 cm), body mass index (27.4+/-3.2 kg/m(2)), and abdominal circumference (103.5+/-10.2 cm) did not correlate with the maximum level of sensory analgesia. In conclusion, in parturients of age, weight, height, vertebral column length, body mass index and aMominal circumference of the above values, it is not necerrary to vary dose of injected local anesthetics with changes in any of the patient variables studied.

A Case of high-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation / 대한마취과학회지

Neonates with severe respiratory distress syndrome who require high levels of assisted ventilation have a high mortality and morbidity rate. Morbidity is mainly composed of bronchopulmonary dysplasia which is a result of air leak syndrome(ALS), oxygen toxicity. Even with unsolved controversy, there is a possibility that high-frequency oscillatory ventilation would decrease the development or progression of ALS in infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome. ALS is defined as pulmonary interstitial emphysema or gross air leak such as pneumothorax. We experienced HFOV to be effective in the treatment of newborn infant with pneumothorax.